On Tuesday, the Chinese Communist Party expelled Ma Xingrui, a highly ranked official, citing corruption and abuse of power for personal gain. Ma, who previously held the position of party secretary in the Xinjiang region, is now the third Politburo member to face expulsion since 2022. This action is part of President Xi Jinping’s ongoing campaign against corruption, focusing on the country’s highest-ranking officials.
Ma Xingrui’s removal marks a significant shift in his career trajectory. Once considered a leading figure in China’s political landscape, Ma achieved recognition as both an engineer and a scientist. His expulsion highlights the most substantial purge of the Politburo since Deng Xiaoping established modern governance protocols in the 1980s. The Politburo now consists of 21 members after the prior removal of He Weidong and Zhang Youxia, two military leaders.
Steve Tsang, the director of the SOAS China Institute in London, observed, “Previously, reaching the Politburo level meant one’s position was secure barring something incredibly serious. Xi has changed this dynamic. Politburo members are now more vulnerable to being ousted.” Tsang added that these removals deliver a firm message: comply and maintain integrity.
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